RESULTS:

• Academic achievement improved by 6% among elementary school students participating in physically active academic lessons compared to a 1% decrease in performance for children who received lessons while seated and inactive.
• BMI increased less over the three-year study among children with more than 75 minutes of physically active academic lessons each week (1.8 BMI) compared with students with less exposure (2.4 BMI).

METHODS:

• This study conducted a longitudinal study over three years in 24 elementary schools using the Physical Activity Across the Curriculum (PAAC).

Donnelly JE, Lambourne K. (2011). Classroom-based physical activity, cognition, and academic achievement. Preventive Medicine, 52 (Suppl 1):S36-S42.